Ulster vs Edinburgh, Build Up Thread

[Notch]

First topic message reminder :

Ulster vs Edinburgh
5.45pm, Saturday 28th April
AVIVA Stadium Dublin
Heineken Cup Semi-Final

Nice sparkly new thread for the build-up to the Heineken Cup Semi-Final. Links to press interviews, team speculation, breaking news and discussion in the week ahead.

Let's kick off with interviews with Ulster defence coach Jonathan Bell and Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley.

Jonny Bell thinks Ulsters fans can be the difference as he reflects on his own win in the 1999 competition.

Michael Bradley talks about the Toulouse quarter-final and assesses the threat of Ulster.

Post any and all match-related chat here

[eirebilly]

FFS

[Guest]

another knock on. Oh Embra, oh oh Embra

[KickAndChase]

Talei 2 mistakes in 2 minutes very costly. That overlap should have been a try!

[Golden]

Oh lord the handling has gone to muck for the men in black

[Gibson]

Cave. Brilliant tackle. HUGE.

[KickAndChase]

Drop goal time ...

[bsando]

i'd so love this to go to extra time. Please rugby gods, let it be so!

[Guest]

Penalty to Ulster, this could be the game.

[Golden]

Hopefully cave will be putting in hits like that against Conrad smith in the summer.

Huge kick now. Come on pienarr!!

[Gibson]

Better team is losing here. No argument. Just lack the nous of the Saffers.

Thats the differ. Thats the HC for ya.

Game over. Hope we make it with ye Ulster. Well done.

[Thomond]

Game,set and match.

[eirebilly]

Yep Giibo, Ed have been the better side but the occasion has gotton to them i feel

Ulster will be deserved finalists though.

[tigertattie]

Two things are deciding this match. The ref and Edinburgh knocking on

[Guest]

Agreed Gibbo.

Embra's knock ons are going to come back and haunt them and that'll hurt. Game has been there for them, ah man. this game can be so cruel.

[KickAndChase]

It's sad to see a team undo themselves instead of the opposition undoing them (for the latter e.g. last year's final) ... but Ulster have done everything they needed to. Would love to see them win the whole thing - best of luck

[Thomond]

It's sad to see a team undo themselves instead of the opposition undoing them (for the latter e.g. last year's final) ... but Ulster have done everything they needed to. Would love to see them win the whole thing - best of luck

Leinster were superb in the second half, Northampton had a part in the loss but Leinster were magnificent. Anyway, Ulster got out of jail a bit but the semi is the toughest the first time around.

[eirebilly]

Great try Ed

[KickAndChase]

Tbh that try makes the whole thing worse for an Edinburgh supporter...

[bsando]

oohhhhhhh whhhyyyy!!!! Rugby gods you are so cruel!!! Well done Ulster!

[Guest]

what a way to finish it but still heartbreaking for them! they get the try, but oh just too late.

Edinburgh, I wasn't a big fan before, but you have completely won me over in this match, amazing effort.

Ulster have defended well but Embra just gifted them too much ball from their own mistakes.

That was a great game.

[Gibson]

Yep Giibo, Ed have been the better side but the occasion has gotton to them i feel

Ulster will be deserved finalists though.

I'll be honest Billser. The Final is tomorrow. None of those two teams would seriously trouble ASM or Leinster.

Best to be truthful here. Its Sunderland v Bayern, whichever one of us makes it to the Final.
Yeah I know Ulster gave em a game in Clermont. But. Its a HC Final. The way they played in this one, either team in the other SF, would have put 30 or 40 on them. No offence

TRY!. Too late.

Well done Ulster.

[Golden]

Wow!! What a try. Well done Edinburgh good luck next year, bit more clinical and you would have finalists.

[Artful_Dodger]

Commiserations to Edinburgh tried to play a a lovely wide game, but maybe don't have the experience that Ulster earned going out in the Quarters last year.

Leinster or Clermont count your chickens all you want, Ulster are going all the way.

[eirebilly]

Its a final Gibbo, anything can and sometimes does happen. I dont think the final is tomorrow. The winner tomorrow will be favourite but not given the trophy. Ulster have shown alot this HC, the win against Munster at Thomond proves that they will not be taken lightly.

[Golden]

Yep Giibo, Ed have been the better side but the occasion has gotton to them i feel

Ulster will be deserved finalists though.

I'll be honest Billser. The Final is tomorrow. None of those two teams would seriously trouble ASM or Leinster.

Best to be truthful here. Its Sunderland v Bayern, whichever one of us makes it to the Final.
Yeah I know Ulster gave em a game in Clermont. But. Its a HC Final. The way they played in this one, either team in the other SF, would have put 30 or 40 on them. No offence

TRY!. Too late.

Well done Ulster.

Disagree in twickers I think ulster can take ASM. Hopefully it won't be that fixture but I can see the trophy staying in Ireland

[Guest]

They won't Billy, but if they allow either Clermont or Leinster to make ground against them like Edinburgh did today....it could be a long day for them.

[Thomond]

Commiserations to Edinburgh tried to play a a lovely wide game, but maybe don't have the experience that Ulster earned going out in the Quarters last year.

Leinster or Clermont count your chickens all you want, Ulster are going all the way.

I doubt it but will be interesting.

Billy, Munster are a bit overrated to be honest. We were lucky enough to make the quarters.

[Dave.]

YES YES YES YES YES YES! ULSTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

WE CAN WIN THIS! BELIEVE!!!! BELIEVE!

[eirebilly]

That maybe so Thom but Munster at Thomond is one of the most difficult matches for any team. Ulster are in with more than a decent shout here.

Hard luck Ed, they have been some story in the HC and i have enjoyed every game that i have seen

[Thomond]

They are indeed Billy, I'm not trying to take anything away from Ulster.

[Guest]

Ulster fans, got to say, enjoy it! You're in the final!! That must be an amazing feeling (As a Scarlet, I don't know what that feels like yet! I'm well used to how Embra will be feeling though )

[Golden]

Head coach gets his team to the final of the premier rugby competition and is demoted to academy coach??


Anyway regardless take a bow Brian mcloughlin!

[eirebilly]

I guess the point i am trying to make Thom is that Thomond is a fortress and Ulster took the game to Munster and played great rugby.

They will not be overawed by any occasion.

Now, lets hope the ladyboys win and make it and all Ireland final

[Thomond]

I guess the point i am trying to make Thom is that Thomond is a fortress and Ulster took the game to Munster and played great rugby.

They will not be overawed by any occasion.

Now, lets hope the ladyboys win and make it and all Ireland final

Thanks for the compliment. Yeah,you're right about that. Ulster played great, built up a lead and defended like dogs hats off to them.

[Gibson]

Head coach gets his team to the final of the premier rugby competition and is demoted to academy coach??


Anyway regardless take a bow Brian mcloughlin!

+1.
He is such a gent as well. Integrity and class rewarded. Yup. I love that.

Take a bow Brian McLoughlin. You put it up to the suits.

[Dave.]

Head coach gets his team to the final of the premier rugby competition and is demoted to academy coach??


Anyway regardless take a bow Brian mcloughlin!

+1.
He is such a gent as well. Integrity and class rewarded. Yup. I love that.

Take a bow Brian McLoughlin. You put it up to the suits.

+2 Now for him to win and walk off into the sunset!

Full credit to Edinburgh, can think themselves very unfortunate. Hope to and think we'll see them back at this stage soon!

[Feckless Rogue]

Head coach gets his team to the final of the premier rugby competition and is demoted to academy coach??


Anyway regardless take a bow Brian mcloughlin!

+1.
He is such a gent as well. Integrity and class rewarded. Yup. I love that.

Take a bow Brian McLoughlin. You put it up to the suits.

+2 Now for him to win and walk off into the sunset!

Full credit to Edinburgh, can think themselves very unfortunate. Hope to and think we'll see them back at this stage soon!

+3

The decision to demote him is starting to look ridiculous. I wonder could another province or maybe even Ireland poach him?

[Glas a du]

Or the Scarlets.

[stevetynant]

Edinburgh just made too many unforced errors - but hats off to the Ulster Lads - especially Fitzpatrick, Court and Macklin - I think either Leinster or ASM will have too much fire power but Ulster have players coming back and a lot of will power - who knows its far from impossible

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Haven't seen the game myself, on a train between Dusseldorf and Den Haag, but I'm being told it was a well deserved Ulster win Strong scrum kept them comfortable and Pienaar was the difference - good luck, nordie lads and lassies

[RuggerRadge2611]

Firstly well plaid Ulster.

Just finished having a brace of pints with FES (top bloke btw) at Teuchters in Edinburgh. Full credit to Ulster they took their chances and Pienarr kicked wonderfully.

All the best for the final lads.

Quietly gutted

[Guest]

Asbo - Ulster defended brilliantly but to be fair and took their chances, but I can't help but feel Edinburgh lost it for themselves, which makes it all the more They had so many chances, just too many errors on the day.

[LeinsterFan4life]

declan fitzpatrick should go on the NZ tour!!!

[gowales]

Edinburgh was Scotland today

[TJ1]

Part of the reason for the knock ons is the speed edinburgh play ad the risks they take. It will produce mistakes - a high risk strategy.

[Guest]

I can't believe how many unforced errors Edinburgh made. They really were the architects of their own downfall. Such a shame really, they played some lovely rugby at points there.

[eirebilly]

Head coach gets his team to the final of the premier rugby competition and is demoted to academy coach??


Anyway regardless take a bow Brian mcloughlin!

+1.
He is such a gent as well. Integrity and class rewarded. Yup. I love that.

Take a bow Brian McLoughlin. You put it up to the suits.

+2 Now for him to win and walk off into the sunset!

Full credit to Edinburgh, can think themselves very unfortunate. Hope to and think we'll see them back at this stage soon!

+3

The decision to demote him is starting to look ridiculous. I wonder could another province or maybe even Ireland poach him?

+4... I just didnt want to get left out

[GLove39]

To me Edinburgh's biggest problem was failing to take adventure of Ulster's yellow card. In those vital 10 minutes we failed to score a single point and in fact conceded 3.
Poor execution and handling letting us down, something very Scottish about that...

[toml]

Head coach gets his team to the final of the premier rugby competition and is demoted to academy coach??


Anyway regardless take a bow Brian mcloughlin!

+1.
He is such a gent as well. Integrity and class rewarded. Yup. I love that.

Take a bow Brian McLoughlin. You put it up to the suits.

+2 Now for him to win and walk off into the sunset!

Full credit to Edinburgh, can think themselves very unfortunate. Hope to and think we'll see them back at this stage soon!

+3

The decision to demote him is starting to look ridiculous. I wonder could another province or maybe even Ireland poach him?

+5. He is dignity and class personified. SUFBML!!!!

Unlucky Edinburgh, but Ulster didn't show everything they've got today. If they play to their top level they will give anyone a game in the final

[LeinsterFan4life]

im so impressed with declan fitzpatrick in the scrum.

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